VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* TRẦN THỊ HẠNH GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN PARAGRAPH WRITING OF FIRST YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY Lỗi ngữ pháp viết đoạn văn sinh viên năm thứ chuyên ngành Tiếng Anh Khoa Ngoại Ngữ - Đại học Thái Nguyên M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS FIELD : ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY CODE : 60140111 Hanoi, 2015 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* TRẦN THỊ HẠNH GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN PARAGRAPH WRITING OF FIRST YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY Lỗi ngữ pháp viết đoạn văn sinh viên năm thứ chuyên ngành Tiếng Anh Khoa Ngoại Ngữ - Đại học Thái Nguyên M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS FIELD : ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY CODE : 60140111 SUPERVISOR : PHẠM ĐĂNG BÌNH, Ph.D Hanoi, 2015 DECLARATION I certify my authorship of the study report entitled “Common Grammatical Errors in Paragraph Writing of First Year English Major Students at School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University” is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master of Arts at University of Languages and International Studies- VNU, Hanoi, and this thesis is in total fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Thái Nguyên, ngày tháng năm 2015 Ký tên Trần Thị Hạnh i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my many thanks to people who have assisted me when I carried out the research To my supervisor Dr Pham Dang Binh, I owe a special debt of gratitude for his profound knowledge, helpful support, and enthusiasm, which are of almost importance to the achievement of my study I would like to convey my thanks to all my teachers of Post-Graduate Studies Department who have supported mw with a lot of knowledge I owe a special note of gratitude to all my colleagues for their invaluable comments, assistance, and advice during the time I was completing my study I am extremely thankful to all the participants who provided me with rich and detailed data for the study and lent breadth and values to the research findings I also wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my mother, my father, family members, and friends whose prayers, love and best wishes were a source of inspiration, encouragements, and motivation for me to complete this research Finally, I would like to thank my readers for their interests and comments on this thesis ii ABSTRACT This paper studies common grammatical errors in paragraph writing committed by first year English major students at School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University (SFL-TNU) and the causes of these errors To achieve the desired aims of current study, the author combined both qualitative and quantitative methods, including the instrument namely students’ writing analysis The participants in the research were fifty first year English major students at SFL- TNU Research results show that first year English major students at SFL- TNU often commit errors in sentence structure, verb usage, preposition usage and singular/plural nouns Besides, the main causes of these errors are mother tongue interference, overgeneralization, ignorance of rule restrictions, incomplete application of rules and false concepts hypothesized; in which interference of native language and overgeneralization are the most common ones In order to minimize these errors, it is suggested that teachers help students practice writing and correct their writings effectively by suitable and flexible techniques iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES PART A– INTRODUCTION Identification of the problem and rationale of the study Aims of the study Research questions Scope of the study Significance of the study Structure of the study PART B - DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I – LITERATURE REVIEW Grammar 1.1 Definitions of grammar 1.2 Roles of grammar in foreign language teaching 2.Writing Paragraph 3.1 Definitions of paragraph 3.2 Structure of a paragraph Errors in foreign language teaching 4.1 Definitions of errors 4.2 Errors versus mistakes 4.3 Types of errors 4.4 Sources of errors 4.4.1 Mother tongue interference iv 4.4.2 Overgeneralization 13 4.4.3 Ignorance of rule restriction 14 4.4.4 Incomplete application of rules 14 4.4.5 False concepts hypothesized 15 Error analysis 15 5.1 Definitions of error analysis 15 5.2 Significance of error analysis 16 5.3 Analysis of composition errors 17 5.3.1 Procedure for error analysis 17 5.3.2 Common ESL writing errors 18 5.3.3 Types of grammatical errors in ESL writing 19 CHAPTER II – RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 21 Research setting and participants 21 1.1 Research setting 21 1.2 Participants 21 Data collection instruments 21 2.1 Reasons for choosing students’ writing task 22 2.2 Description of students’ writing task 22 Data collection procedure 23 Data analysis 23 4.2 Classification of errors 25 4.3 Explanation of errors 25 4.4 Evaluation of errors 26 CHAPTER III – FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 27 3.1 Findings 27 3.2 Discussion 31 3.2.1 The most common grammatical errors committed by first year English major students at SFL- TNU in paragraph writing 31 3.2.1.1 Sentence structure errors 31 v 3.2.1.2 Verb errors 33 3.2.1.3 Preposition errors 35 3.1.2.4 Noun errors 36 3.2.2 The causes of errors made by the first year English major students at SFLTNU in paragraph writing 36 3.2.2.2 Overgeneralization 38 3.2.2.3 Ignorance of rule restrictions 39 3.2.2.4 Incomplete application of rules 40 3.2.2.5 False concepts hypothesized 40 PART C- CONCLUSION 41 Summary of the study 41 Limitations of the study 42 Suggestions for further studies 42 Recommendations 43 REFERENCES 45 APPENDIX I vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS EA: Error Analysis L1: The First Language L2: The Second Language SFL- TNU: School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University vii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 2.1: Error marking symbols Table 2: Error classification Table 3.1; Number and frequency of grammatical errors in paragraph writing by types and by groups Figure 3.1: Frequency of grammatical errors in paragraph writing by groups Table 3.2: Frequency of each grammatical error type Figure 3.2: Frequency of each grammatical error type viii REFERENCES Abeywickrama, R (2010) An Analysis of Errors in English Writing of Sinhala Speaking Undergraduates Abaramuwa University Journal, (1), 97-114 Brown, H D (1980) Principals of Language Learning and Teaching New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc Brown, H D (1980) Principals of Language Learning and Teaching Fifth Edition New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc Byrne, D (1988) Teaching writing skill Longman Handbooks for Language Teachers Longman: London Candling, R.B (2001) Vocabulary and Language Teaching New York: Longman Inc Corder, S (1967) The significance of learners’ errors International Review of Applied Linguistics, pp 161-70 Corder, S (1974) Error Analysis The Edinburgh Course in Applied Linguistics Oxford: OUP Corder, S (1979) Error Analysis and Interlanguage Oxford: OUP Chomsky, N (1965) Aspects of the Theory of Syntax Cambridge: MIT Press 10 Cunning, W (1987) Principles of Language Learning and Teaching New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents 11 Crystal, D (1990) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of English Language NY: Cambridge University Press 12 Darus, S (2009) Error Analysis of Written English Essays of Secondary Students in Malaysia: A Case Study European of Social Science, (3) 13 Dulay, B (1974) Natural Sequences in Child Second Language Acquisition Language Learning, 24 (1): 37-53 14 Dulay, H C et al (1982) Language Two Oxford: OUP 15 Ellis, R (1997) The Study of Second Language Acquisition New York: OUP 45 16 Ferris, D R (2001) Treatment of Error in Second Language Student Writing Ann Arbor University of Michigan Press 17 Flower, W S (1984) Progressive Writing Skills Nelson 18 Heydari, P (2012) Error Analysis: Sources of L2 Learners’ Errors Theory and Practice in Language Studies, (8), 1583-1589 19 Hedge, T (1988) Writing UK: OUP 20 Hubbard, P et al (1993) A Training Course for TEFL Oxford: OUP 21 James, C (1998) Errors in Language Learning and Use Addison Wesley Longman Limited 22 James, C (2001) Errors in Language Learning and Use England: Longman 23 Khansir, A A (2012) Error Analysis and Second Language Acquisition Theory and Practice in Language Studies, (5), 1027-1032 24 Klassen, J (1991) “Using Student Errors for Teaching” FORUM, Vol XXIX No 1, Jan 25 Klassen, J (1991), Bates et al (1993), Igram & King (1996), introduced by Le rd Thanh Tam & Le Ngoc Phuong Anh (2004) Writing Academic English, edition 26 Lee, W R (1990) Thoughts on Contrastive Linguistics in the Context of Language Teaching Washington: Georgetown University Press 27 Oshima, A & Hogue, A (1996) Writing Academic English Addison- Wesley Publishing Company 28 Palmer, F (1990) Grammar New York: Penguin Group 29 Phạm Đăng Bình (2013), Lý thuyết phân tích lỗi nhìn góc độ giao thoa ngơn ngữ - văn hóa Một số ứng dụng việc dạy học tiếng nước NXB Khoa Học Xã Hội 30 Richard, J C (1971) The Study of Learner English London: Longman 31 Richard, J C (1973) Error Analysis- Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition London: Longman 46 32 Richard, J C ed (1989) Error Analysis- Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition London: Longman 33 Salkie, R (1985) Text and Discourse Analysis London: Routledge 34 Sawalmeh, M H M (2013) Error Analysis of Written English Essays: The case of Students of the Preparatory Year Program in Saudi Arabia English for Specific Purposes World, 40 (14) 35 Selinker, L (1972) Interlanguage International Review of Applied Linguistics, (10), 209 – 231 st 36 Sercombe, P G (2000) Strategizing Teaching and Learning in the 21 Century Proceedings of the International Conference on Teaching and Learning Faculty of Education: University Kebangsaan Malayisa, Bangi 37 Tribble, C (1996) Writing Oxford: OUP 38 Ur, P (1990) Grammar Practice Activities Cambridge University Press 39 Van et al (19720 Error Gravity: A Study of Faculty Opinion of ESL Errors TESOL Quarterly 18 (3), 427-440 40 Verma, G K & Mallick, K (1999) Researching Education: Perspectives and Techniques Falmer Press (London and Philadelphia, PA) 41 Welman, C et al (2005) Research Methodology Cape Town: Oxford University Press 47 APPENDIX TYPICAL ERRORS COLLECTED FROM STUDENTS’ WRITINGS Error sentences It is an important event in my life Because it is the result of 12 years of schooling I cried because I really feel happy One of the most important event in my life would have been the death of my grandmother I asked my mother but she didn’t told me who this man is This is the first time I have ever seen my dad I am so happy when my dream came true At lunch, we forget coming home I had cry very much I was proud of my father because he is a great father I love my mother more since my father died This is the first time I had to leave her I cryed, but I quickly stopped crying because mother say “ Good kids will not cry.” I was visiting schools, discover a lot of surprises with new friends In the meantime, I have a lot of feeling I was happy because I have made a part of my dream I remembered that when my brother is hungry in the middle of life and cries for milk, my mother wake up at one even if she is tired My mother didn’t in class He have the coax and play with me He’s tall and handsome I His voice’s gentle, friendly, and gallant That morning, I waked up earlier than usual Eveyone have a reason why you studied English Although I am learning English not good It is the time when I was nine years old I had study English for seven years It is one of my subject at school After that having a girl who is at the age of nine, she take to the poor man a loaf of bread When we were children, we had studied English When we used computer, you can understand it Learning English mean you learned a part of people and culture If you speaking English, you won’t need to rely on translation or subtitles anymore to enjoy your favorite films I start loving it when I was a primary student I thinked more mature, more clearly I asked my mother, but she didn’t told me At lunch, we forget coming home When… and called us come home I try to behave as a good girl to not make my mother sad I felt lonely and wanted cry when I missed him I can continue studying at the university I liked and starting a new plan here My grandfather was always care about everyone and me I was worried about to start an independent life He knew and learnt many thing such as sing a short song and read some poem Moreover, we need learn to accept your bodies as we are II I can hit many famous English song: always be sung or prolonged by the most famous singer in the world There will be a good opportunity to learning English when you learn English good Learning English help me can converse with foreigner Have many reasons why I choose learn English When learn English, I can visit country different I choose learn English I like English and ant speak good English …although learn English not easy When travel to different countries I must to learn English I must to study English well English is used to connecting people together It help us communicate and makes friends with people in the world I know that tell lie is a bad person My dream is go travel around the world They seem didn’t see that beggar I saw my mother was crying Everyone should learning English “ I would checked homework.” English has became international language There was many things I need English is being a most popular and important language To learning English well I choosed foreign language department- TNU Everyone have a reason to study English III Learning English help me converse with foreigner Learning English help me listening English song Learning English help me communicate with a lot of people Everybody use it as language communication Family give me a sense of belonging It help us have a good job It help us become dynamic English help us have good salary English have much in the computer Knowing English increase opportunity to get a good job Learning English mean you learned a part of people ad culture English help us communicate with other cultures in the world It is very good if you practice with your mirror, which make you feel more confident Being able to speak English allow me to communicate effectively English allow me to get more from culture For next three day, I couldn’t go to school In important event in my life was the day I entered the gate of university He…some poem Many country use English as second language That’s a reasons why I like English Friend…us Today, we should have some activity to relax I can hit many famous English song I already took more English course English is a media by which we can contact with other person Learning English help me can converse with foreigner IV Learning English help me can listen English song It can be very helpful for tourist to know English I can visit country different I can know culture of many country I can speak with many person or chat with many person I able to understand the lyrics if my favorite English song We will travel to other country It is one of my subject at school ….because learner have the passion for it I would be love to communicate with foreigner ….teacher require me to master this knowledge English is the most commonly used languages This is an important lessons I have learnt in life After a children approached taking hand her This is lesson I never forget The most important lesson I have learnt in my life some language Because…can be dangerous When I was 16 years old, I must take part in an important examination My teacher said: I would check homework I’m studying English teacher require me to master this knowledge There are main courses I learn it Because she always took care of me from adult Because I realized she worried about that we can be dangerous Because she doesn’t want me lonely When I saw him to the photo The first day of school with many surprises and fear V Just fun, just worried As we know, since we were born and grew up When he went to kindergarten After making effort myself An important event in my life: my first day at school My school’s name is Nhu Co I When I cried so much because my mother didn’t in class I was very impressed and I could not forget the time When I caught sight of the bog school in front of me Time the most valuable commodity Friend always there to share and help us I understand that when I aloof, know only my all interest If you know English well Although I am learning English not good Learn English not easy Many years ago, when I was 10 For many reasons A small action which bring to others happiness …, show learning English A transferring level examination Because studying here my effect badly to my lifestyle I still fine When I went t school as usual When I said I hadn’t done homework The most important lesson I have learnt in my life When I give into fear I didn’t that English really important now VI You can use English when you visit other country, English is very popular in the world You can manage better approach, you can speak with confident Many famous movies and songs are written in English, I like it I increase my English proficiency, I will be able to get a good job I not understand what the doctor is telling me, he will say to me “do you need a translator?” 10 pm, my mother didn’t see me, she was very worried and went out to find me It was my lesson, I have never lied her since e are people who want to learn English because it is the common language, learner have the passion for it I would love…foreigner, they can learn to cultivate knowledge After that having a girl who is at the age of 9, she take to the poor man a loaf of bread I crossed, a motorbike suddenly went on and crashed into me My father was very worried, he asked what had happened I stayed at hospital one week, when I was healthy, my dad brought me home I love it so much, I will try to learn it to carter my life English help us communicate with other cultures in the world, if you know English you’ll have more opportunity to find job English is very important in today life, we need to study more to develop our country I didn’t worry, my time was very much English is the international language, it was used around the world College is an important event in my life It is really event in my life VII I had to walk to go home alone It is the most event that had happened to me One of the most event in my life was the day, which I met my father First time, mum hold hand me step into a strange place All is my first time: strange fear and interesting I will enter a learning environment and a completely new We had a lot of memory about your family, your friends and our beloved people My younger brother was born and uttered a cry when brought into the world, is a important event in my life I immediately, I told to my parents But then have a boy friend very friendly When I had difficulty you are helping me We became friends until now have been 12 years Moreover, we need learn to accept your bodies as we are I can travel to any country that doesn’t have difficulties in communicating Even though I already took more English course, starting from primary until now on, but I still not fluently I have drown an important lesson that is: to live with all my heart, friendly, and good-natured Learning English as well as part important in life of me I am student university Have many reason when I choose learn English In the computer use English is language main The most information international written in English is main English is the most international of languages VIII I know that tell lie is a bad person It make other people bored with me and don’t believe you Many advantages when studying English It is not difficult to image some situations when knowing English give me a great feeling After that having a girl at the age of If don’t have my parents, I can’t be there now That is where I was born and grew English have much in the computer Studying English is very required for every body Since then, I’m always hard learn my parents and my teacher are always happy In life, we are have lesson to learn We are learn to books and to people around I am saw a grandmother waiting go to way After a children about to approached taking hand her and leaded her go to way I’m feel is a person very hard-hearted Why I want to learn English is so that can travel to English speaking country English is a language that very important to me In life of everyone have valuable lesson …my time was very much I still played a lot more to learn It is face my fear When I give into fear I had overcome the fear by I must first ask myself a simple question IX Why be angry, I went to my grandmother is house College is not the only way, but it is the surest way of me On that day, after finishing at school, I did not see my grandmother waiting me at the school gate My mother whisper with me For the next day, I couldn’t go to school I remember that day, after studying at school, I came back home He had left to me when I was born It is so important with me My younger brother and I went to there without asking my mother’s permission I want to say with the world that “I love my parents very much” I often learned by myself through books, internet to seek some information which was useful for me and involved my lessons The first day of school … The other children the same age It is easy for communicate It is the best medium that can help us reach with advanced technology and the development of the world English helps improve international friendship and expand our knowledge with other countries Learning English help me can listen English song I will be a teacher English in the future We can use English to talk each other We can listen, speak, and write by English X Also, we can communicate and talk with them about everything 10 p.m, my mother did not see me It makes other people bored with you and don’t believe you In that day, I did not have to go t school I can go many places English is important with me Everybody use it as language communication I fell down road I stayed at hospital one week The important lessons we have learnt in life have a great influence in building our character Today English is used in over the world After graduating university … We are learn to books, and learn to people around Conclusion, English is a language that is important to me It is very good if you practice with your mirror In that day, I had some mistakes I stayed at there a few days I did not know that my parents looked me everywhere English really important now and the future He advised me to think of things positive Because she doesn’t want me person lonely I promise myself that I will learn well But then have a boyfriend very friendly This is a thing wonderful My mother always taught me to live honest, kind and friendly XI I am a girl selfish, unfriendly Although I am learning English not good English is the most speak country in the world I can visit country different I like English and I want to speak good English If I able to speak English proficiently, I will able to communicate with more people I able to understand the lyrics of my favorite English song Why you are learning English? … from the lessons simple to the lessons important and difficult After a children abour to approached taking hand her When she knew we had gone fishing she was angry and called us come home The day my father died is an important event in my life and maybe I will never forget it He likely an apple When I cried so much because my mother didn’t in class Learning English is very much an integral part of our life English is the most commonly language in the world Finally reason … My English is really well XII ... “Common Grammatical Errors in Paragraph Writing of First Year English Major Students at School of Foreign Languages – Thai Nguyen University? ?? is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master... Identification of errors - Classification of errors - Explanation of errors - Evaluation of errors 23 4.1 Identification of errors In this step, students? ?? writings were given to two writing teachers at. .. Languages – Thai Nguyen University? ?? Aims of the study This research is carried out with the following aims: Investigate the grammatical errors in paragraph writing of first year English major students